Kootenai County Hearing Examiner Will Hear Vignale Setback Variance March 5

A request to reduce required setbacks for a new house on North Half Mile Lane will be heard by the Kootenai County Hearing Examiner on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in Room 1 at 451 N. Government Way in Coeur d’Alene. The public hearing concerns Case No. VAR25-0019, a variance application filed by the Charles and Cara Vignale Living Trust to construct a primary residence on a 0.27-acre parcel in the Restricted Residential zone.

A legal notice states: "NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Kootenai County Hearing Examiner will conduct a public hearing on March 5, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in Room 1, 451 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID to consider Case No. VAR25-0019, a request by Charles and Cara Vignale Living Trust, for a 14 ft. variance to the 25 ft. rear yard setback and 2 ft. variance to the 10 ft. side year setback (southern property line) in order to construct a primary residence on a 0.27 acre parcel of land located in the Restricted Residential zone. The parcel number is 03520000058B and described as: H L Honeysuckle Hills Building Sites, TAX # 18171 EX TX#S [IN LT 58 & GOVT LT 3] in Section 20, Township 51 North, Range 03 West, B.M., Kootenai County, Idaho. The subject property is located in the 8800 block of North Half Mile Lane."

If the variances are granted as requested, the required rear-yard setback would be reduced from 25 feet to 11 feet and the southern side-yard setback would be reduced from 10 feet to 8 feet. Interested residents should review the official application and staff reports for site plans, justification for the variances, and any information about potential impacts on drainage, wildfire setbacks, privacy, or neighborhood character.

Kootenai County advises that "Kootenai County public meetings will take place in-person and via telephone. Public comments will be taken during the public hearing and by telephone as well." The county also notes: "Future public meetings will also be available to view live on the Kootenai County YouTube channel" and cautions that "Comments submitted on YouTube however will not be included in the record." Participants who plan to both watch the livestream and testify by phone should follow the county's guidance: "If you are interested in participating in the hearing via telephone AND also plan to watch the YouTube livestream, please mute the device playing the livestream to eliminate echoing."

There is a discrepancy in published telephone numbers for testimony on county meeting materials; two different dial-in numbers appear in county tables. Residents and media should contact Kootenai County Community Development at 451 Government Way, Coeur d’Alene, or by phone at (208) 446-1070 to confirm the correct dial-in number and sign-up procedure before the hearing. The legals column that carried the variance notice also included a separate notice of a name-change hearing for Kimberly Faye Nagy scheduled March 9.

What comes next for readers: if you live near the 8800 block of North Half Mile Lane or have an interest in local land use, review the VAR25-0019 application at Community Development, attend the March 5 hearing in person or by phone, and provide testimony while it is part of the official record. The examiner’s decision will determine whether the Vignale proposal can proceed with the reduced setbacks.